Updated
Overview
China has 1,766 times the population of Bhutan: 1.41 billion people against 796,682 (2025).
China's economy is 5,447 times the size of Bhutan's, at $19.50T versus $3.58B.
Per person, China is the wealthier of the two: $13,862 against $4,493 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | China | Bhutan | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $19.50T | $3.58B | 2025 | $18.74T / $3.02B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $13,862 | $4,493 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 5.0% | Higher: 8.0% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | Lower: 0.1% | 3.6% | 2025 | 0.2% / 2.8% |
| Unemployment | 4.6% | Lower: 3.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 47 | 23 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | Higher: $807 | $322 | 2022 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | Higher: $268 | $45 | 2024 | — / — |
| Big Mac price | $3.91 | — | — | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 1.41 billion | 796,682 | 2025 | 1.41 billion / 892,877 |
| Population growth | -0.2% | 0.6% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 40.1 yrs | 30.5 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 1.02 | 1.44 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 78.0 yrs | 73.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 66% | 43% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 92% | 91% | 2025 / 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 9,596,960 km² | 38,394 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 146.6/km² | 20.8/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 12,289 Mt | Lower: 1.66 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 8.7 t | Lower: 2.1 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $313.66B | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 1.7% | — | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 2.5 million | 6,000 | 2020 / 2000 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Bhutan is growing much faster: 8.0% annual GDP growth versus 5.0%.
Bhutan runs the hotter price environment: 3.6% inflation versus 0.1%.
Day-to-day prices are noticeably lower in Bhutan: a price level of 23 versus 47 on a US=100 scale.
Average monthly earnings favour China: $807 against $322 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Bhutan is the far younger society: median age 30.5 versus 40.1 years.
Life expectancy is 4.8 years longer in China (78.0 vs 73.3).
China is considerably more urbanized: 66% of people live in cities, against 43%.
Geography
By land area, China is 250 times the size of Bhutan: 9,596,960 km² versus 38,394 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
China is far more densely settled: 147 people per km² against 21.
Military
China fields the larger armed forces: 2.5 million personnel against 6,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is China bigger than Bhutan?
- China is larger by land area. China covers 9,596,960 km² while Bhutan covers 38,394 km², so China is 250 times the size of the other.
- Which has more people, China or Bhutan?
- China has the larger population: 1.41 billion versus 796,682 (World Bank, 2025).
- Is China richer than Bhutan?
- Measured by GDP per capita, China is richer: $13,862 against $4,493. Total GDP tells the same story: $19.50T for China versus $3.58B for Bhutan.